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''The Land Before Time'' is a 1988 American-Irish animated adventure drama film directed and co-produced by Don Bluth and executive produced by Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall.〔 Produced by Sullivan Bluth Studios and Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment, it features dinosaurs living in the prehistoric times. The plot concerns a young ''Brontosaurus'' named Littlefoot who is orphaned when his mother is killed by a ''Tyrannosaurus''. Littlefoot flees famine and upheaval to search for the Great Valley, an area spared from devastation. On his journey, he meets four young companions: Cera, a ''Triceratops''; Ducky, a ''Saurolophus''; Petrie, a ''Pteranodon''; and Spike, a ''Stegosaurus''.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The Land Before Time )〕 The film explores issues of prejudice between the different species and the hardships they endure in their journey as they are guided by the spirit of Littlefoot's mother and also forced to deal with the murderous ''Tyrannosaurus'' that killed her. This is the only Don Bluth film of the 1980s in which Dom DeLuise did not participate (instead, he starred in Disney's ''Oliver & Company'' that same year), and the only film in ''The Land Before Time'' series that is not a musical, as well as the only one to be released theatrically worldwide. Released by Universal Pictures on November 18, 1988, the film was a critical and financial success, and spawned a multimillion-dollar franchise with thirteen direct-to-video sequels (without association with Bluth, Spielberg, or Lucas) as well as merchandise (toys, video games, etc.) and a television series. ==Plot== Near the end of the Cretaceous, during an intense drought, several herds of dinosaurs seek an oasis, known as the "Great Valley." Among these, a diminished "Longneck" herd gives birth to a single baby, named Littlefoot (Gabriel Damon). Years later, Littlefoot plays with Cera (Candace Hutson), a "Three-horn," until her father (Burke Bynes) intervenes; whereupon Littlefoot's mother (Helen Shaver) names the different kinds of dinosaurs: "Three-horns," "Spiketails," "Swimmers," and "Flyers," and states that each has historically remained apart. That night, as Littlefoot follows a "hopper," he encounters Cera again, and they play together briefly until a "Sharptooth" attacks them, and Littlefoot's mother comes to their rescue. During the fight, she suffers severe back and neck injuries. At that same time, an "earthshake" opens a deep ravine that swallows up the Sharptooth and divides Littlefoot and Cera from their herds. Littlefoot finds his dying mother, and receives her advice in favor of his intuition. Depressed and confused, Littlefoot meets an old "Clubtail" named Rooter (Pat Hingle), who consoles him. Littlefoot later hears his mother's voice guiding him to follow the "bright circle" past the "great rock that looks like a longneck and past the "mountains that burn" to the Great Valley. Littlefoot meets Cera again and tries to persuade her to join him, but she refuses. Later, Littlefoot is accompanied by a young "Bigmouth" named Ducky (Judith Barsi). Soon after, they meet a "Flyer" named Petrie (Will Ryan), whose aerophobia makes him insecure and nervous. Cera, attempting to find her father and sisters, finds the unconscious Sharptooth, mistakenly wakes him up, and flees. She soon bumps into Littlefoot, Ducky, and Petrie, and tells them that the Sharptooth is alive, although Littlefoot does not believe her. In her (falsified) description of the encounter, she accidentally flings Ducky into the air. When she lands, Ducky discovers a mute hatchling "Spiketail", whom she names Spike and brings into the group. Cera and Petrie use a log in a river to find Ducky, and run into a waterfall, when Littlefoot saves them. Seeking the Great Valley, they discover a cluster of trees, which is abruptly depleted by a herd of ''Whiptailed Longnecks.'' Searching for remaining growth, they discover one tree still with leaves, and obtain food by stacking atop each other and pulling the leaves down. Cera remains aloof, but at nightfall, everyone, including herself, gravitates to Littlefoot's side for warmth and companionship. The next morning, they are attacked by the Sharptooth, but escape through a cave-tunnel too small to admit him. Beyond this, they discover the Longneck-shaped monolith mentioned by Littlefoot's mother, and later a string of mountains that burn. Cera grows impatient and decides to go another way, and the party are divided: Littlefoot continues in the direction he was told, while the others follow Cera; but Ducky and Spike become endangered by lava and Petrie is stuck in a tar pit. Littlefoot rescues them, and they find Cera harassed by a small gang of "Dome-heads"; and having been coated in tar, scare them away. Ashamed of her fear and reluctant to admit her mistake, Cera leaves them again. While crossing a pond, Petrie spies the Sharptooth nearby, and Littlefoot plots to lure him into the water (using Ducky as bait) beneath a nearby boulder, intending to drown him. In the struggle that follows, a draft from the Sharptooth's nostrils enables Petrie to fly. Littlefoot and Spike have trouble moving the boulder, until Cera assists them; whereupon Sharptooth, tries to take Petrie with him to his death. Littlefoot and his friends mourn the loss of Petrie until Ducky finds him, soaked and exhausted, but alive. Littlefoot, alone, follows a cloud resembling his mother to the Great Valley, there to be joined by the others. Upon arrival, Petrie impresses his family with his newfound flight, while Ducky introduces Spike to her family, who adopt him. Cera reunites with her father and Littlefoot rejoins his grandparents. Cera then calls for Littlefoot to play. They join their friends at the top of a hill and embrace each other in a group hug. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Land Before Time」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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